Phonograph.



.C. B. BEPP.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19. I912.

1,21 3,41 3. Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

3 SHEETS SHEET 1- est: I In Ven tor:

3 Wa M Atty C. B. RE'PP.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1912.

Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventor:

\ 6st,; r 3 by W (J.

C. B. REPP.

PHONOGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1912.

1,21 3,41 3. Patented Jan. 23, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F z 71: 1 0 ll Z Z 1 U [a I es t: W Wnvantor UNITED STATES, PATENT oFFIoE.

CLINTON BJBEPP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

rnonoenun.

My invention relates tov phonographs, and {more particularly to a type of phonograph patented to me in and by Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,003,655, of September 19, 1911, wherein the sound vibrations are transmitted to a stationary diaphragm through a non-oscillatory transmitter arm.

The main object of my invention is to provide a phonograph of this character adapted to be adjusted for use with either-a gramophone or a graphophone record. 1

A further object is to provide, a phonograph wherein the transmitter arm is supported by a supplemental arm, and independent means are provided for developing pressure upon the" diaphragm through the transmitter arm, and for bringing the stylus point into the desired relation to, and'intimate contact with, the record.

A still further object is to provide a spho- I nograph wherein the desired pressure upon the diaphragm will be developed in a manher which will permit this pressure to be applied either substantially axially of the diaphragm, or at an angle to its axis, in order to facilitate the adjustment of the instrument to use with either gramophone or raphophone records.

A still further object is to provide a phonograph wherein the sound vibrations-are transmitted to a stationary diaphragm through a non-oscillatory transmitter memher, and wherein said transmitter member will be held substantially stationary, the

record having movement relative thereto to brin every portion of the record within,' and into the operative relation to, thestylus carried by the transmitter arm.

A still further objectis to provide a phonograph employing a substantiallyfixed styluspoint and a traveling record support adapted to have movement relative to the stylus, wherein sufficient play will be afiorded in the stylus support to compensate for any irregularities in the record or' any lack Specitrcation of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 23, 1917.

Application filed January 19,-1912. Serial No. 672,067.

. of uniformity in the feed of the traveling record support.

A still further object isto provide in a machine of the character immediately above referred to, means whereby as the stylus is raised from the record such movement will simultaneously render the record feeding mechanlsm lnoperative so as to'permit the return of said record to the starting position.

still further object isto provide a clutch device controlling mechanism for the record feeding mechanism which will be operative at any point in the movement of the said mechanism, and which when the stylus oint 1s placed upon the record, will automatically render the clutch device of the record feeding mechanism operative. And a still further object is to provide a structure of this kind, which will be simple in design, reliable in its operation, and inexpensive to produce. 1

The invention consists primarily 1n a phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a substantially.

stationary transmitter arm connected with said diaphragm and carrying a stylus point, and means for causing said record support to have lineal traverse relatively to said stylus; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and

more particularly pointed out in the claimshereto appended.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a vertical section of a phonograph embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section transversely of the line of movement of the motor frame; Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of the transmitter-mechanism and the sound box; Fig. 5 is a'horizontal section showing the motor and the parts appurtenant thereto; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the connection between the rigid supporting arm and the transmitter arm; and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the structure for applying a tensional stress to the diaphragm.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views. In the embodiment of myinvention shown in the drawings, aindicatesa frame carried by a cabinet having a top slab a thereon. Carried by the said frame is a' plurality of guide rods vb upon which are mounted the plates e of a spring motor of any desired construction, which is shown merely conventionally in the accompanying drawings.

Included in the motor is a spring drum a carrying the first gear 0 of a train of gears, the last gear 0 of which train is splined upon a feed screw 0 journaled in the frame a. By this means the entire motor is permitted to travel within the cabinet while at the same time rotating the feed screw 0" irrespective of the position of the motor relative thereto. Also driven from the same gear train is a beveled gear d, enmeshed with a beveled gear upon the vertical shaft 6 having mounted thereon, so as to be rotatable therewith, the record supporting table 6, which in the form of the invention shown occupies a horizontal position. To secure the desired stability of the said table, I provide brackets e having bearings in which the shaft 6 is mounted-adjacent to the opposite ends thereof. The cabinet top has a slot a therein, through which the shaft 6 projects, said slot being of a length suflicient to admit of a feeding movement approximating the radius of the table 6'.

Mounted in the cabinet adjacent to the feed screw 0 is a rock shaftf having splined thereto an arm, mounted upon and v movable with the motor frame, said arm carrying a nut f adapted to engage the said feed screw. Keyed to said shaft is a weighted arm f adapted to normally force said nut f into engagement with said feed screw 0 thus positioning these parts so that with the rotation of said feed screw 0 the entire motor and the record table will travel radially of the latter. This construction is employed in order to permit the nut to be thrown, into and out of gear with the feed screw at any point of the travel of said table in order to permit the adjustment of the record, or the stoppage of the machine, in a manner which will be hereinafter referred to.

Mounted upon theatop slab a at a point thereof without the range of movement of the table 0, is a sound box, g, the supporting means for which comprises a plurality of standards g. This construction results in a sound box occupying a fixed position;

Within the sound box 9 is a diaphragm g the detailed construction of these parts be ing that now commonly employed, or any other desired construction that may be satisfactorily employed.

Secured to the top slab a axially below the diaphragm 9 is a post It having on the top thereof a yoke k, the axis of which yoke extends vertically and coincides with that of the diaphragm. Mounted in the yoke h by means of a horizontal pivot z", is a supporting arm 71 preferably of metal, the pivot 2" connecting said arm with said yoke projecting beyond said yoke so as to constitute a stjid to be utilized in effecting the adjustmerits of the instrument for use with graphophone records. The arm 5 projects substantially radially of the diaphragm 9 toward and over the record table 0, and the outer end thereof carries a universal joint i carrying a split collar 2' adapted to receive and engage the outer end of the transmitter arm. Projecting downwardly from the said arm 71, adjacent to the post h, is a post j, and extending from said post j and secured to the post h is a coiled spring is, adapted to exert a downward pressure upon said arm for the purpose of developing the desired pressure of the stylus point upon the record carried by the table 6. Also carried by the arm 71 is an upwardly projecting extension I directly beneath and terminatlng adjacent to the diaphragm, said extension being adapted for use in adjusting the instrument for use in connection with gramophone records.

The means for conveying the sound vibrations indicated upon the record to the diaphragm, comprise a transmitter arm wt preferably of wood, which is firmly secured in position Within the split collar i adjacent to that end thereof carrying a mount m adapted to receive the stylus point a. This stylus point is secured within said mount by means of the set screw m The other end of saidtransmitter arm is connected to the diaphragm g by means of a flexible loop 9 carried by said diaphragm and attached to said transmitter. arm in the manner described in my patent above referred to. Sccured to the end'of said transmitter arm adjacent to the diaphragm is a small coiled spring 0 the free end of which is provided with a loop adapted to pass over the protrud ing end of the pivotz" or of the extension Z, according to whether it is desired to use the instrument in connection with graphophone or gramophone records.

While the action of the spring is will tend to develop the desired pressure upon the diaphragm to place the loop connection in tension, to provide independent means for increasing this pressure, I mount upon the split collar 71 a spring extension p between which and the hook i upon the arm 2' is a coiled spring 9 adapted to exert a torque upon the universal joint 2' to place the diaphragm under suflicient tension, the spring 0 supplementing the action of the spring, 9 and controlling the direction of the application of pressure.

The arm i is capable of a very limited movement in the yoke it, this movement being merely that necessary to permit suflicient play of the outer end of said arm and of the stylus point n to compensate for irregularities in the indicated sound waves upon the record and inequality in the feeding movement of therecord, caused by lost motion in the feed screw 0. A movement equal to the width of eight or ten sound wave grooves is sufiicient to eliminate all imperfections in the reproduction due to such irregularities, thus requiring but very little play at the point of support of the said arm a.

In order to place the feeding or traveling of the motor under the control of the transmitter arm m, and its supporting arm 2', I secure to the arm f a connection rod 1- carrying an angular plate 8 havin a forked end .3 adapted to straddle the said arm 11 in amanner to cause the raising or lowering of said arm to'oscillate the shaft f to throw the nut f out of engagement with the feed screw 0 or permit it to drop into such engagement. Thus, it will be observed, as the stylus is raised from the record, the feeding movement of the record table e will instantly cease, and the motor driving said table will be freed so as to permit said table to be restored to its normal position where the edge thereof will be directly beneath the stylus point, or permit the adjustment of said plate to bring the stylus point into engagement with the grooves containing the indicated sound vibrations upon the record.

The operation of the herein described honograph is substantially as follows nasmuch as the details of the motor are old and well known in this art, the showing of this motor and the description thereof is merely conventional, it being assumed that the motor is so constructed as to cause a rotation of the various parts at a predetermined rate of speed.

When it is desired to start the motor, the transmitter arm m is raised, carrying with it the supporting metallic arm 5, which raises the rod r and the arm f, thus oscillating the shaft f. This movement of the shaft disconnects the nut f from the feed screw 0, permitting the entire motor to be moved relative to the said transmitter arm by means of the record table 6'. When the rec- 0rd upon the table 6' is in a position where the stylus n will properly engage the groove upon the upper surface thereof, the said transmitter arm is lowered, reversing the movement of the nut f and throwing it intoengagement with thefeed screw 0 so that when the motor is started, the rotation of said screw will cause said nut to travel.

along it. This movement of the said nut will impart a lineal traverse to the motor and to the table 6 in a manner to bring every portion of one radius of said record within the operative rangeof the said transmitter arm and stylus. Thepitch of the feed screw 0 will be suchas to'correspond with that of the spiral groove upon the record, the slight play of the transmitter arm m described above compensating for any differences in pitch between that of the screw and that of the groove of the record. As the motor is thus caused to travel beneath the top slab a, the shaft e will be simulta neously rotated to impart the desired'rotary movement to the record so that while the arm f, will bring the-nut into meshwith the screw and will preserve the proper relation between these parts. As the record thus travels lineally toward, and rotates beneath, the stylus n, the horizontal pivots i of the arm 6 will permit said-arm and the transmitter arm m to rise and fall with the irregularities in the movement of the table 0', the arm m moving about an axis coinciding with its point of connection with the flexible loop 9 connecting it with the diaphragm 9 There is no pivotal movement of the collar 6 the arm m with the exception of the slight lateral play above referred to, having movement only u on the said loop 9 As the record moves in relation to the stylus, the sound waves indicated thereon will develop in the transmitter arm vibrations corresponding in frequency with those indicated upon the record, which vibrations will pass to the diaphragm and produce sound waves in the manner described in my patent hereinbefore referred to. The said diaphragm is always in tension from the springs in and q, the action of these springs tending to exert a pull upon the diaphragm in a direction slightly obliquely of the axis thereof so that when no supplemental means, are used, the instru- .ment will reproduce sound from either a graphophone or a gramophone record. To

increase the amplitude of the reproduction,

however, I provide the adjustment spring 0 which increases the tension upon the diasolely for the purpose of permitting the movement of the transmitter arm m, for accomplishing the adjustment above referred to.

The arms of the forked end 8 of the plate 8 straddle the arm 2' and are spaced apart sufiiciently so that when the nut f is-in engagement with the feed screws 0 neither of said arms will be in engagement with the arm 2' an arrangement which I use so as to prevent the development of any vibrations in said plate through its contact with said subject matter of other applications of mine,

pending concurrently herewith.

Ibelieve it to be broadly new however, .to incorporate in a machine ofthis character a support for arecord, a stationary trans- 'mitter arm having 'no pivotal movement about bearings intermediate its ends, and means for imparting simultaneously lineal and rotary movement to (said record support, and I intend to claim such broadly.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is 1. A phonograph embodying therein ,a

vfixed amplifier, a transmitter arm, one end of which is adapted to carry a stylus point, means connecting the other end thereof with, and adapted to transmit vibrations from said arm to, said amplifier, a rigid supporting arm for said transmitter arm, one end of which is connected to said transmitter arm adjacent that end thereof adapted to carry the stylus point, meanssupporting the other end of said arm and holding it against lateral movement while permitting vertical movement, a record support, and means caus ing said record support to have lineal traverse relatively to a stylus carried by said "arm, and to have simultaneous rotary movement.

2. A phonograph embodying therein a fixed amplifier, a transmitter arm, one end of which is adapted to carry a stylus point, means connecting the other end thereof with, and adapted to' transmit vibrations from said arm to, said amplifier, a rigid supporting arm for said transmitter arm, one end of which is connected to said transmitter arm adjacent that end thereof adapted to carry the'stylus point, means supporting the otherend of said arm and holding it against lateral movement while permitting vertical movement, a record support, means causing said record support to have lineal traverse relatively to a stylus carried by said arm, and to have simultaneous rotary movement, and means adapted, to place said amplifier under tension through the connecting means between said transmitter arm and said amplifier.

3. A phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a

substantially stationary transmitter arm,

carrying a stylus point and adapted to be connected with and transmit vibrations to, said amplifier, means for causing saidrec- .ord support to have lineal traverse relatively to said stylus and to have simultaneous rotary movement, means adapted to place said amplifier under'tension through the connection between said transmitter arm and said amplifier, and means whereby the direction of this pressure may be varied to adapt the machine for use in connection with either graphophone or gramophone records.

4. 'A phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a rigid supporting arm mounted upon horizontal pivots below saidamplifier, said arm having slight lateral play, means exerting a downward pressure upon said arm, a substantially stationary transmitter arm attached adjacent to one end thereof to said supporting arm and having the other end thereof connected with, and adapted ,to

transmit vibrations to, -said amplifier, said transmitter arm being adaptedto carry a stylus point, and means for causing said record support to have lineal traverse relatively to'said stylus and to have simultaneous rotary movement.

5. A phonograph, embodying therein arotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a rigid supporting arm mounted upon horizontal pivots below'said amplifier, said arm having slight lateral play, means exerting a' downward pressure upon said arm, a substantially stationary transmitter arm attached adjacent to one end thereof to said supporting arm and having thev other end thereof connected with, and adapted to transmit vibrations to, said amplifier, said transmitter arm being adapted to carry a stylus point, means or causingsaid record support to have lineal traverse relatively to said stylus and to have simultaneous rotary movement, and means adapted to place said amplifier under tension through the connection between said transmitter arm and said amplifier.

6. A phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a rigid supporting arm mounted upon horizontal pivots below said amplifier, said ,arm having slight lateral play, means exerting a downward pressure upon said arm, a substantially stationary transmitter arm attached adjacent to one end thereof by a universal joint to said supponting arm and having the other end thereof connected with, and adapted to transmit vibrations to, said amplifier, said transmitter arm being adapted to carry a stylus point, means for causing said record supportto have lineal traverse relatively, to said stylus and 7 to said amplifier and said transmitter arm may be shifted about said universal joint to vary the direction of the application of the stress tensioning said amplifier whereby the phonograph may be adjusted for use with either graphophone or gramophone records.

7. A phonograph embodying therein a fixed amplifier, a. transmitter arm, one end of which is adapted to carry a stylus point, means connecting the other end of said arm with, and-transmitting vibrations therefrom to, said amplifier, a feed screw, a frame adapted to receive lineal traverse from said feed screw, a rotary record support carried by said frame, a spring motor carried by said frame, means actuated by said motor for imparting a rotary movement to said record support simultaneously with the lineal traverse of said frame, and means preventing movement of said transmitter arm across the record by and in accordance with the indicated sound waves upon a record carried by said support.

8. A phonograph embodying therein a fixed amplifier, a transmitter arm, one end of which is adapted to carry a stylus point, means connecting the other end of said arm with, and transmitting vibrations therefrom to, said amplifier, a feed screw, a frame adapted to receive lineal traverse from said feed screw, a rotary record support carried by said frame, a spring motor carried by said frame, means actuated by said motor for imparting a rotary movement to said record support simultaneously with the lineal traverse of said frame, means preventing movement of said transmitter arm across the record by and in accordance with the indicated sound waves upon a record carried by said support, and means whereby said motor frame may be connected with and disconnected from said feed screw at will.

9. A phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a rigid supporting arm, mounted upon horizontal pivots below said amplifier, said'arm having slight lateral play, means exerting a downward pressure upon said arm, a substantially stationary transmitter arm attached adjacent toJone end thereof to said supporting arm and having the other endthereof connectedv with, and adapted to transmit vibrations to, said amplifier, said transmitter arm being adapted to carry a stylus point, a feed screw, a spring motor adaptedto receive lineal traverse from said feed screw, a gear driven by said motor slidably mounted upon said feed screw, a nut carried by said motor, means actuated by said supporting arm whereby said nut may be thrown into or out of engagement with said screw, and means carried by'said motor for imparting a rotary movement to said record support simultaneously with the lineal traverse of the motor.

.10. A phonograph, embodying therein a rotary record support, a fixed amplifier, a rigid supporting arm, mounted upon horizontal pivots below said amplifier, said arm having slight lateral play, means exerting a downward pressure upon said arm, a substantially stationary transmitter arm attached adjacent to one end thereof to said supporting arm and having the other end thereof connected with, and adapted to transmit vibrations to, said amplifier, said transmitter arm being adapted to carry a stylus point, a feed screw, 3. spring motor adapted to receive lineal traverse from said feed screw, a gear driven'by said motor slidably mounted upon said feed screw, a nut carried by said motor, and slidably mounted upon a rocking shaft, an arm carried by said shaft, a rod secured to said arm and adapted to straddle said supporting arm, whereby said nut may be thrown into or out of engagement with said screw as said supporting arm is lowered or raised to engage the stylus with, or disengage it from, the record, and means carried by said motor for imparting a rotary movement to said record support simultaneously with the lineal traverse of the motor.

11: A phonograph embodying therein a record support, means actuating said support,a fixed sound box, a diaphragm mounted therein, a transmitter arm adapted to carry a stylus point at one end thereof, a

flexible connection between the other end of said arm and said diaphragm, a rigid sup porting arm adaptedto have said transmitter arm mounted thereon adjacent to the stylus, a universal joint connecting said transmitter arm and said supporting arm, means acting through said supporting arm whereby said transmitter arm is normally forced toward a record, projections substantially axially below said diaphragm and below and eccentrically thereof, and an elastic member, one end of which acts upon said connection between the transmitter arm and the diaphragm, and the other end of which is adapted to be connected to ,either of said projections to adjust the machine for use with a graphophone or a gramophone record.

12. A phonograph, embodying therein a record support, means actuating said support, a fixed sound box, a diaphragm mounted therein, a transmitter arm adapted to carry a stylus point at one end thereof, a flexible connection between the other end of said arm and said diaphragm, a rigid supporting arm adapted to havevsaid transmitter arm mounted thereon adjacent to the stylus, a pivotal connection between said transmitter arm and said supporting arm, means acting through said supporting arm whereby said transmitter arm is normally In witness whereof, I have hereunto afforced toward a record, a spring member fixed my signature in the presence of two 1.- carried by said pivotal connection, and an subscribing Witnesses, this 8th day of-Januelastic member extending from said spring -a ry, 1912.

member downwardly to said supporting arm, 7 CLIN TON B. REPP. whereby a rotative movement is exerted Witnesses: upon said pivotal connection to develop pres- FRANK T. WENTWORTH, I

sure upon said diaphragm. EUGENE WENING. 

